During this economic downturn, we wanted to thank you for your continued business and remind you that we are here for you – really here for you. When you call on a Saturday afternoon to talk about a concern, or when you realize Tuesday at 5:30 pm that you need an e–newsletter to go out that night by 7 pm, we are here.

We have been VERY fortunate to work with a group of businesses that we consider to be the “best of the best:” Essence Restaurant Group, Daniel’s, Rogers big&TALL, Country Fresh, Bazzani Associates, Local First, Midwest Capital Advisors, Grand River Grocery, Berkeley Farms, NET(net) and many others. Despite an uncertain and turbulent future in which many businesses are struggling to keep the doors open, we are here to help our clients find creative ways to not only keep their doors open, but to enjoy a steady flow of traffic going through them.

We work to create best-case scenarios with our clients. Our ability to get results, be quick and responsive, and problem-solve has always served us AND our clients well. Our philosophy over the past five years — really the philosophy Karen started the company on — is pretty much why we believe we’re still here and growing strong: We are not satisfied with anything until YOU are happy with it. And we assure you, that is never going to change. We’ll continue to fight, kick and scratch right along side you, day or night, weekday or weekend until it’s right and you’re happy… that’s just who we are.

We live on the front edge of technology and continuously analyze new media in order to bring you new solutions. Today, five years after starting this business, we are managing a wide range of web-related projects with our two developers from static HTML sites to full-blown CMS-based websites, E-mail marketing management with Email RPM, Google Adwords, Facebook, Twitter, you name it, we’re on it.

Perhaps to your surprise, the web accounts for nearly 30 percent of annual TIS business. Our first website (bistrobellavita.com) is heading into its third version in 2009, and its CMS from 2005 is still stable. If you’re wondering how to leverage this technology, ask us, we would love to help. We are especially excited about our e-mail program, Email RPM (emailrpm.com), a low-cost, high-yield way to keep in touch with your customers and increase business and loyalty. You can control your own program or we can manage the process for you… it’s your choice. If you haven’t begun an e-mail program, call or email us now! We promise, you won’t be disappointed.

Of course we haven’t abandoned print, radio, outdoor or direct mail. Far from it. Every client, every situation, every budget, every audience is unique, and timing is everything. A carefully planned media mix is like a complex formula that must be strategically researched, measured and calculated to achieve the correct balance.

When you think about how to use, purchase or be aggressive with media, we want you to turn to us. Our 55 plus years of combined experience assures you that delicate balance will be achieved for your business and your unique situation.

Watch for more e-mails from us this coming year on best-management practices, our philosophy on marketing and new innovative programs. As gloomy as the economic future may look, I am confident both our clients and our company are in it for the long haul. Being grounded in the triple bottom line – local economy, community, and environment – we are confident we will be here in 2010 and beyond.

Again, thank you so much for working with us. We don’t self-promote very often because we focus an enormous amount of energy on promoting our clients' businesses. If you’d like to take a fresh look at your marketing program,or you're ready to try something new, call us. We're here for you.